NZ Customs Release

Issue

816

12 December 2025

Customs seizes 45 kilograms of cocaine in Tauranga

Customs officers at the Port of Tauranga seized an estimated 45 kilograms of cocaine, worth a retail street value of NZ$15.75 million, as part of its ongoing inspections work programme. 

A container, originating in Houston, United States, made its way to Balboa, Panama where it stayed in transit before arriving in Tauranga on Thursday 4 December 2025, with Customs officers ready to conduct further screening.

During x-ray screening, Customs officers identified anomalies in the imagery, which led to a physical inspection of the container and its contents.

Hidden amongst legitimate goods, Customs officers located two plastic wrapped bags that contained a total of 45 cocaine bricks, each weighing one kilogram. 

Compensatory interest rate decreases from 16 January 2026

The rate of compensatory interest payable under sections 154 and 161 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 will change with effect on and after 16 January 2026.
 
The interest rate will change from 9.89% to 8.97%. 

New Customs Goods Management Levies

New Regulations have been made that give effect to the Customs levies announced in March 2025.  

This allows Customs and MPI to recover the costs of managing goods crossing our border.
 
You can read the Customs and Excise (Goods Management Levies) Order 2025 and the Customs and Excise (Postal Articles) Amendment Regulations 2025.  

The new levy structure will take effect on 1 April 2026. It modernises our goods cost recovery framework, and also makes the way we recover costs fairer for levy payers and for taxpayers. 

Helping businesses prepare 

We're hosting industry meetings and online sessions to explain the changes and answer questions. You can download our industry information packs from Customs website at Goods Fees – 2026 changes. 

For more information, email trade.programme@customs.govt.nz.  

Consultation on proposals to strengthen New Zealand's Export Control Regime now open

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade has released a public consultation document on options to strengthen New Zealand's Export Control Regime. Exporters, their agents and those associated with any aspect of military or dual use goods or intangible technology transfers should take the opportunity to consider the document and provide their views on the proposals.

To learn more, interested parties can register for both online and in-person consultation events. These commence 8 December 2025.

Consultation closes 5pm, 16 January 2025.

Please contact ecrreview@mfat.govt.nz with any queries.

You can view the consultation document and register via the link below.

MFAT Market Intelligence Reports

The latest edition of the weekly global trade and economic update for New Zealand businesses has been published.